PhD Applications
Overview
There are a very limited number of openings to pursue a PhD in South Asian History under the supervision of Professor Kama Maclean. A PhD is typically completed within three or four years, as expected by most funding bodies, and is awarded on the basis of a written thesis and its successful defense and publication. The History Department offers a semi-structured program; students are expected to take part in the weekly colloquium; a once-per-semester collaborative workshop on their progress; and in relevant SAI and CATS programs. Students can also elect to take courses in the MA stream to upskill if they feel the need or have a specific interest.
Elegibility
Acceptance for supervision in the department is dependent upon applicants meeting the acceptance requirements of the Faculty of Philosophy. All applicants must hold an MA in History with excellent grades.
Criteria
Proposed projects should align with the criteria of the funding body that is being targeted. They should be innovative and fresh, and demonstrate a development in the candidate’s research career, and should not be a continuation of the MA thesis project. Applications should align with the profile of the department’s research and teaching agenda (broadly speaking, 19th and 20th century histories of South Asia).
Application Details
Applications are considered twice a year, and the process is competitive. The submission dates are January 31st and July 31st. Please submit the following documents as a single PDF to Ms. Lizeth Ortiz, at history@sai.uni-heidelberg.de
- Cover letter stating your motivation to pursue a PhD in the department (Maximum 1 page)
- Research proposal, including a clear, precise and feasible research question, a literature review that demonstrates your thorough knowledge and critical evaluation of relevant debates, a description of archives and sources you wish to consult and a rough timeline (Max. 10 pages including bibliography)
- Updated academic CV
- Formal academic transcripts
- Letter of funding support, if you have already secured funding
Funding
Acceptance for supervision does not come with funding. Please note that funding is extremely competitive. You can find a list of Doctoral Fellowship Opportunities at DAAD, Graduate Academy Funding and at Graduate Academy Fellowships.
Evaluation Process
Evaluation of written application: you will be notified within six weeks of the submission deadline. If the written application is positively evaluated, applicants will be invited for an online interview with Prof. Maclean and Dr. Lüder, and referees will be contacted. Please be advised only fully completed applications submitted by the deadlines will be reviewed. Please note that due to limited resources, we are unable to provide feedback on drafts.